IsraAID & BGC Squared: 2026 Northern Uganda Rural Groundwater Exploration Program

In January 2026, BGC—through our social impact program BGC Squared—partnered with non-governmental organization IsraAID and the United Nations Association of Uganda, Gulu University Chapter, to complete the latest phase of its groundwater exploration program in Northern Uganda. This program focuses on improving access to safe, reliable drinking water by combining geophysics expertise with local capacity building. Rather than delivering short-term solutions, the program empowers local students and communities by providing them with the skills and tools needed to identify, develop, and sustain water resources over time. Through hands-on training, the Acholi people learn how to: Identify new water well locations using geophysical methods Drill and install new groundwater wells Develop, maintain, and test wells to ensure long-term water quality and sustainability Since launching in 2018, the program has provided safe drinking water to more than 30,000 people across three phases (2018, 2023, and 2026). Its most significant and lasting impact comes not only from access to safe drinking water but also from the ~120 students trained through the program. This video highlights the program partnership and its impact on the Acholi community using footage from the January 2026 trip. Thank you to producers Nexa Studio in Gulu, Uganda, for granting permission to share their video. Learn more about BGC Squared: www.bgcengineering.ca/bgcsquared Learn more about IsraAID: www.israaid.org